prevalence of liver diseases and etiological factors among the patients of Jinnah post graduate medical centre [JPMC], Karachi

Objective: To determine the frequency and etiological factors of nonneoplastic and neoplastic liver diseases

Study Design: Observational / analytic study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, BMSI, JPMC from 1st January 2012 to 31st September 2014

Materials and Methods: A total of 288 liver biopsycases of formalin fixed liver tissue biopsies were selected and analyzed for morphological features and grading received from January 2010-December 2012, at the department of Pathology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre. Most common liver disease was CLD [88.54%]. Most common age for CLD was between 3rd-5th decades of life with male predominance. HCV was the most common etiological factor. Out of total cases, 6.59% were hepatocellular and bile duct carcinomas. Most common age for liver cancers was 5th-7th decade of life with male predominance. The data feeding and analysis were on computer package SPSS [Statistical Packages of Social Sciences] version 20.0. In all statistical analysis only p-value <0.05 was considered significant

Results: The most commonly encountered liver disease CLD was found as a major liver disease [71%] of the samples were suffering from CLD, while 25 % were suffering from HCC, Hepatitis C was the major cause of the liver diseases, [55.56%] of the liver patients were earlier suffering from the Hepatitis C

Conclusion: In conclusion we observed that the most common liver disease in biopsy cases is chronic liver disease [chronic hepatitis], mostly occur between 21-50 years of age with male predominance and most frequent etiological factor is HCV

Assessment of prevalence of the most common cancers at a tertiary care hospital in Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Objective: To assess the prevalence of most common cancers

Study Design: Observational / analytic study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at King Fahd Hospital [KFH], Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA] from January 2015 to December 2015

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among 200 cancer patients, visited KFH, Al Ahsa. Total 200 patients were included in the study. Adult patients of age 15 to 85 years were included. The data was analyzed using SPSS 16

Results: Among total 200 cancer patients, males accounted for 108 [54%] and females for 92 [46%]. Age of the male patients at presentation was 45 to 85 [mean 65] years and age of the female patients was 49 to 83 [mean 66] years. Only 2 cases of Osteosarcoma were found in young age males [21 to 23 years], and only 2 cases of breast cancer were found in young age females [32 to 34 years]. Among males, the most frequent malignancies were colorectal carcinoma, lymphoma, leukemia, lung cancer, prostate cancer, urolithial cancer and other cancers [mesothelial, pancreas, stomach and osteosarcoma], respectively. Among females, the most frequent malignancies were breast cancer, thyroid cancer, colorectal carcinoma, lymphoma, leukemia, renal cell carcinoma and other cancers [gall bladder, pancreas, ovary and uterus], respectively

Conclusion: Among males, colorectal carcinoma, lymphoma, leukemia, lung cancer and prostate cancer were the most common cancers. Among females, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, colorectal carcinoma, lymphoma and leukemia were the most common cancers. Our results alarm to initiate the cancer control programs to decrease the cancer incidence in our region

Spinal subdural haematoma following traumatic lumbar puncture in a patient with normal coagulation profile

Spinal subdural haematoma following lumbar puncture is a rare cause of spinal cord compression with very few cases reported in the literature. It is usually associated with some predisposing factors like haemorrhagic diathesis, anticoagulant therapy, vascular malformation, tumour or trauma. The authors report a case of spinal subdural haematoma in a 30-year-old male following a traumatic lumbar puncture with no obvious coagulation disorder. The patient had a poor outcome with minimal improvement in paraparesis at last follow-up, even after timely decompression. Although coagulation abnormalities are commonly found in most of these cases, our case illustrates the fact that spinal subdural haematoma can occur even in the presence of normal coagulation profile and a high index of suspicion with early diagnosis and intervention is warranted to prevent irreversible neurological deterioration, especially following a traumatic lumbar puncture

Intracerebral haematoma after lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage

Cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] leak is a well recognized complication of basilar skull fracture, skull base surgery and neurootological procedures. Continuous CSF drainage has been a widely accepted procedure to prevent and treat such leaks. Though generally the procedure is innocuous, it can cause complications like headache, nausea, vomiting, subdural bleeding, infection and tension pneumocephalus. Though the development of intracranial subdural haematomas have been reported in a number of cases after deliberate lumbar CSF drainage or inadvertent CSF leak following spine surgery; lumbar CSF drain causing an intracerebral haemorrhage has not been reported previously as per the authors' review of literature. We report a rare case of intracerebral haematoma following lumbar CSF drainage which was managed by timely diagnosis and early evacuation. The authors recommend close neurological monitoring of patients who require continuous lumbar drainage to detect any life-threatening complications